Australia is home to several notable gaming events. From big-name conventions like SXSW Sydney and PAX Aus to smaller gatherings like Supanova and Smash! It is safe to say that the market is well represented. This year, however, the organisers of Oz Comic-Con want to take it a step further and host what is being called “Australia’s biggest gaming celebration,” Generation Games. This event is dedicated to celebrating gamers, gaming, game developers, and the gaming community. Below, we take a closer look at what we know so far about Generation Games.
Date and Location
The highly celebrated consumer event is expected to be the biggest gaming event in the country. According to a recent press release from the organisers, Generation Games is aptly named. The event will feature titles from all generations, from retro to next-generation.
The Generation Games event will also celebrate Australia’s gaming and iGaming industries. In recent years, the Australian igaming sector has experienced immense growth due to emerging tech innovations like AI and VR and the spread of high-speed internet. According to IMARC Group, the country’s online gambling market was worth $4.5 billion in 2022.
This growth, which is in tandem with the video gaming industry, is all the more impressive because of the legal restrictions on online gambling in Australia. The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 only allows three forms of online gambling in the country. Despite this, much of the global traffic to online gambling sites can be traced to the best online casinos in Australia, which offer a wide array of quality gaming options.
Generation Games will acknowledge this and other unique realities of Australian gaming. It is scheduled for 20 to 21 April 2024 and will take place at the International Convention Centre Sydney in Darling Harbour, with attendees expected to come from all over Australia.
Events to Look Forward to
Generation Games is still in the early stages of planning. However, the organisers have already announced a rich itinerary of exciting activities for the event. Attendees can look forward to esports tournaments, several RPG and tabletop games, and PC and console free play zones. There will also be community meetups, arcade and retro gaming, and arena presentations featuring talks and demos on gameplay.
Generation Games promises enough activities, exhibitors, and content to fill the entire weekend. There will be a showcase of local Aussie games and possible AAA titles, with appearances from game developers in Sydney. And while the names have yet to be confirmed, there are rumors that attendees will get to see Guitar Hero and Space Invaders. The organizers are also in discussions with more developers for the showcase.
According to Sales and Events Manager Ben Williams, Generation Games is “having discussions with all of the major publishers and distributors about being a part of Generation Games 2024.” In the tournament department, you can expect Goldeneye and Rocket League events, among others.
Lenovo Legion
Generation Games has announced Lenovo Legion as one of its major collaborators and the inaugural Presenting Partner for the 2024 event. The tech firm is known for its super stylish and efficient laptops and PCs and its undisputed support for gaming and the gaming community in Australia. Consequently, its involvement in the upcoming event is good news for gamers, who will get to see and test amazing Lenovo Legion products during the showcase.
Showcase Opportunities
And while that is exciting, the showcase will fortunately not be limited to Lenovo Legion. Generation Games has expressed an enduring interest in creating a platform for game developers from Sydney to showcase their latest projects.
Williams explained that indie developers based in New South Wales and Sydney have not been lucky enough to enjoy the opportunities their interstate counterparts have. According to him, the situation is partly caused by a lack of a dedicated gaming event in Sydney – a problem Generation Games will solve.
In his words, “One of the goals of [the event] is to provide an event that will help local indie dev[elopers] get commercial recognition.” Williams hopes the platform will expose developers to important contacts within the gaming community and corporate industry.
Generation Games has not yet posted the exhibition costs for interested indie developers. However, Williams has confirmed that the organising committee will try to maintain a balance between value and exposure. He believes that the platform should be feasible enough to have long-term viability.
Game developers interested in showcasing or exhibiting at the event can register on the official Generation Games website. The website also features information on volunteering, tickets, and more.
Bringing Together the Gaming Community
Above all else, Generation Games is about bringing gamers together in a community of like-minded individuals. Attendees will have a chance to connect one-on-one with other gamers, developers, and gaming enthusiasts in a way that has been lacking in NSW and Sydney. The event will allow gaming community members to learn, play, and discover together.
The meetings will go beyond casual setups, too. Generation Games is organising scheduled community meetups to help gamers form new relationships. Williams explains that the event will unite gamers and game developers in Sydney to “celebrate their passion.”
Wrapping Up
From what we know so far, Generation Games will be a big event that will highlight the social aspects of gaming, bring together the Australian gaming community, and provide a platform for indie developers. The 2024 affair is set to be a great chance to discover new tech, see new releases, interact with developers, watch esports tournaments, and more. The details are still coming out – Generation Games has only released one presser – but any passionate gamer is sure to find something to tickle their fancy here. Details will continue to unravel as Generation Games continues to plan.
